Padmanabha:'Put security in place first, open B vault later'

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 22: The Supreme Court has passed its interim judgement on the opening of the controversial 'B' vault at the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala. It has stated in its judgement that the said vault should not be opened till adequate security is provided.

The Supreme Court appointed panel headed by CV Anand Bose had in its recommendation said that all vaults including B vault be opened for assessing the value of the riches that have emerged from the temple recently. The estimated worth of the temple riches is estimated to be Rs 1 lakh crore.

The court also said that the temple needs to provide Rs 25 lakh every year towards security cover of the valuable treasures that were found in the secret cellars within the temple. It also added that the assets in the other vaults needs to be assessed first before the B vault is dealt with. The court has also ordered the panel to continue with its evaluation of the properties of the other vaults, ie...from A to F. [Read: What riches behold the sealed B vault?]

The court also said that it was satisfied with the security arrangements proposed by the state and thereby there was no need of central security forces providing cover, including that of the CRPF. The court has asked the state to step up the security arrangements of the temple.

There was much controversy on the opening of the B vault after a devaprashnam was conducted to ascertain the divine will that barred the opening of the vault. The elaborate astrological ritual had found that the opening of the B vault would bring bad luck and other catastrophes and that it would go against the will of the deity. [Read: Opening of B vault of Padmanabha to bring 'deadly' results!]